West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-07-28


lovel Day after day to watch her merr,
petting OF those big brothers, and then
TO recall his lonely childhood and youth
Is not the fate of this poor Val easily sur.
miScdl
Tramping alone 10y the riverside, Val
at last discovers and acknowledges Ia
himself the cause Of the vague wrctchcd.
ness OF the past s-acknowlcdges
With siekoning realization that his hap.
y piness for life is in the hands Of Girl
who has only an unreasoning hatred or.
at best, supreme Indifference. To
give him; and he grinds his boot heel
into the soft turf as he goes slowly to.
ward the camp.
A sudden turn around clump OF
fringe hung biIches, and Mr.. Graham be-
| holds spectacle which drives away from
him all thoughts OF his own troubles.
Upon . gnarly old tree, leaning far out
over the riYer. sits Miss Bess, plainly dis
consulate. In the pool below her her
hat Is slowly sailing around like gon.
dola OF new design. At the sound OF
footsteps she raises her head but as heI
eyes meet his, the welcoming gleam Of
hope In them gives way TO flash of ire
and she says, petulantly:
"Oh, | hoped you were Steenic.n
I'm sorry" he says, gently, ''but
Steenie would not help YOU moro gladly
than | would, were il in my power"
After pause, during hich the girls
tears puzzle him, he continued quietly :
Let us go home TO the boys and our
campfire. 1t is getting late You will
take cold there; and you have lost your
hat, too.
Not at all, " returns Bess. 81 am
only leaving il there till come down. |
am waiting for the sunset but YOU need
not wait too"
"But l should like to-
A long pause onsues Miss FLEMING
apparently gives rapt attention to some
soft, fluffy little clouds flushed TO a rose
pink by the setting sun. Mr.. Graham AS
intently gives his whole mind, aided by
his good right arm, to the recovery of
the truant hat, which Guides his i'm.
promptu fishing-pole with an agility
which seems 10 prove il endowed with
the spirit Of its wilful owner.
IL wish you would come down now, -
he breaks forth landing as he speaks his
dripping and somewhat dilapidatcd
prize. "You don't look comfortable up
there -
well, I'm not, Sc she replied, with uu-
/ looked-for energy and hystcrical min
Cling of tears and laughter "Thc branch
that helped me up here broke off. and
then floatcd down the river Every timo
have tried TO get down / have nearly
pitched into the water, 50 have sat hero
for hours like a craven image, and my
two feet fast asleep. I'd huye jumped in
/ long ago, before you found me sitting
here like an idiot she CONCLUDES, yehe-
mently, ''only it looks so deep down
there -
As she finishes he has found a firm
footing among the roots of her tree.
and with gravity which causes Bcss to
regard him with suspicion, says, in "a
I business-like way:
''lf you will lean forward trlc, ]
will place you on terra irma and we will
go"
But Miss Fleming has resumed her con.
temptation of the sky, and without
glancing at him, says, willfully:
81 told you before that intended stay.
here TO see the sunset. You are so evi-
! IDENTIFY in haste, you may go. But be
sure and tell Steenie / want him"
Valentines arms fall, his face whitens
and his voice rings with passionate anger
80 ] may not even touch your hand,
and would give my life for you! You
have nothing but undcscrvcd contempt
for me, and II love youm
lie folds his arms upon the tree and
drops his head upon them, as if the end
Of all things had indeed come.
Bessie's eyes are looking far away, aud
within them new sweet light Of self
revelation grows and deepens.
The little clouds are growing gray tho
cool twilight seems TO creep closer with
its soft, cool languor and it's blurring
shadows. The wind sighs through the
trees in low, sad whispers; the murmur
of the river sounds clear and loud A
saucy bird, very near, suddenly gives a
shrill, startling cry, aud Bcss stirs un-
easily, and with her eyes dropped 90 the
helpless little boots, says, nereously, with
an argumentative air:
This out-of- door life is very health.
full, don't you think"
At this apparently irrelevant remark
Valentine raises his head and looks at
her in great amaZcment
81 have grown 80 very stout and
heavy" she continues. hrayoly. that
do not think YOU could lift me down.
50 am quite willing To- try. be- saws.
with eager sarcasm: and with the color
huohlhH uti aWctl iA.ts nIf iftNH LIMIfN
him with outstrctchcd hands
i cannot tell you anything more. cx.
cept that, as they came into camp arm in
arm, with a new light iu their mcc..
Halls boots received an especial bone.
diction Martha knocked over tine c0Tee.
pot in ft Of bcwildcrmcnt Gar upset
Steenio in the cxubcmncc of his JOS.
while Tom, I'm on aside, asked What
nil Uncle Ralph sayf'- Frlak L,d,ft